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In introducing Romney, McDonnell made his case as the steward of Virginia’s strong economy.

“For those of you not from here, welcome to the most business-friendly state in America, the Commonwealth of Virginia,” McDonnell told the crowd. “Welcome to the state with the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast. Now as good as that is, imagine how much better off we’re going to be with President Mitt Romney?”

And at his turn at the microphone, Romney heaped praise on his host, calling him “one of the greatest governors in the history of this great Commonwealth. What a phenomenal leader he is.”

McDonnell, who first stumped for Romney during South Carolina’s primary, is the latest prospective vice presidential candidate to campaign with Romney.

On the rope line after the event, McDonnell brushed off the idea that he is campaigning for the national ticket.

“I’m going to do everything I can to help the ticket, I’ve told him that. I just want to help him win Virginia,” he said.

Asked if he would turn down the job if offered, McDonnell said: “Look, I’m not even thinking about that. You know, I’ve got Thomas Jefferson’s job, I’m not looking for another one.”

One thing that could hurt McDonnell’s chances in a campaign where Romney suffers from a large gender gap is his March signing of a bill requiring Virginia women to have an ultrasound before receiving an abortion.

Ed Gillespie, newly signed on to the Romney campaign as a senior adviser, said before the event that McDonnell will add to Romney’s appeal in Virginia but didn’t address a question about whether his popularity is transferable to the party’s presumptive nominee.

Readers' Comments (32)

Gosh, what happened to Bachmann's pronouncements that the only way to win in November was to nominate a "true conservative"? I quess it is the same as Ann Coulter's statement "If Christ does not run, we will nominate Romney and we will loose."

And McDonnell is far from the greatest governor Virginia has ever had. He has no good transportation plan and has signed into law forced medical procedures- so much for "liberty"!

ha ha ha, ha ha ha. who in their right mind would stand next to bachmann and attempt to connect with independents? oh man, this gets better by the day. i'll bet anyone $10K, that romney loses. come on conservatives, put your money where your mouth is.

I think the left must think that women think about abortion rights a lot more than they do. News flash! Most women oppose abortions personally. And here's another news flash: the economy isn't roaring back no matter how many times the media reports that. We and our neighbors are still struggling with unemployment, high cost of living, regulatory burdens on our businesses, increased healthcare costs from Obamacare changes to private insurance companies, and lower pay. And here's the last news flash: more people are concerned about the $15T deficit and Obama's promise breaking about reigning in spending and dealing with the deficit. Instead he's got a solid $5T of his own in 3 years, with the deficit exceeding GDP and debt per capita worse than that of Greece.

BACHMANN: “No, he cannot beat Obama because his policy is the basis for Obamacare,” Bachmann said. “The signature issue of Obama is Obamacare. You can’t have a candidate who has given the blueprint for Obamacare. It’s too identical. It’s not going to happen. We have to have a candidate, a bold distinct candidate in the likeness of Ronald Reagan.”

The "endorsement" of Bachmann is something like being called the most appealing of all the lepers in the colony! She gets the "W" award for telling the best flip flop of the current republican circus since she now thinks the Mormon is OK but had said he couldn't beat Obama when she was running and the contract on American democracy Newt called Mitt a "liar" so do we believe them then or do we get fooled again?